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ISSN 1757-2991 RPS Nature Group Residential Weekend 2020 Foxlease, New Forest

Foxlease Girlguiding Activities Centre, Lyndhurst, Hampshire SO43 7DE Friday 16th - Monday 19th October 2020 S

Leader: James Foad LRPS P R

E H T

F O

P U O R G

E R U T A N

E H T

F O

E N James Foad LRPS, the organiser of this event, is now accepting bookings on a first come first served I Z

basis for the 2020 Autumn residential Weekend to be held at Foxlease Girlguiding Activities Centre, A

Lyndhurst, Hampshire. Foxlease combines the classic charm of a Georgian Manor House and the beauty G of the surrounding area of the New Forest. All rooms are en-suite. A I s u e N o . 1 3 5 / W i n t r 2 0 9 M

I am told by Heather Angel that it is quite some time ago that the Nature Group stayed here.

There will be opportunities to photograph a wide range of fungi, plants, invertebrates and vertebrates.

The cost for the for Single room occupancy is £310.00

A deposit of £125.00 is required to secure your place

For further details please contact:

James Foad LRPS I R S Tel: 07834 – 810430

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RPS Nature Group Summer Residential weekend Skomer Island and Margam Discovery Centre Wednesday 24th June to Monday 29th June 2020

James Foad LRPS, the organiser of this event, is now accepting bookings for the 2020 Summer Residential weekend which is going to be slightly different to previous years!

Participants should book their own accommodation for the nights of 24th and 25th June in the Martin Haven area.

On 26th June there is a visit to Skomer Island at a cost of £11.00 per person. However the boat trip to the island is weather dependent. The photographs, from the top: After visiting Skomer we move on to Margam Discovery Centre for the rest of the weekend. Harlequin Wrasse, Finch and Marine Iguana, Diver at the Secret Cave and Sunrise behind the Wolf volcano, Isabela. 16 places are available on a first come first served basis. Once the places are filled a waiting list will be opened.

Cost for the weekend is: £175.77 for Margam, plus £11.00 for the boat plus your accommodation and meals for the first two days. A deposit of £75.77 is required to secure your booking.

For further details and to book call James Foad LRPS on 07834 810430 or email: [email protected]. The Iris 135 p 1-5_Layout 1 14/10/2019 20:39 Page 1

Contents

Publication information ‘The Iris’ is published by the RPS Nature Group three 2 Editorial times a year. Copy and publication dates are as follows: 3 From the Chair Spring Copy deadline 8th December Published mid March. Summer Copy deadline 30th April 6 The Riches of my Back Garden Published early July. By John Bebbington FRPS Winter Copy deadline 31st August Published early November. 10 My Road to Recovery All contributions should be submitted to the Editor. Items covering any aspect of nature photography An interview with Trevor Parsons and/or natural history are welcomed, including re- views on equipment and relevant books. The Editor 12 Delights of the S’Albufera de Mallorca can be contacted at: [email protected] by Ann and Phil Miles Copy should be sent as .txt or .doc files by email or wetransfer.com. Please do not send hand written copy. Digitally captured photographic images are preferred 17 Entry Form for 2020 Members’ Exhibition of Prints but scanned transparencies are also acceptable. Im- and Digital Images ages (whether vertical or horizontal) should be supplied on CD or via WeTransfer.com as flattened 8bit sRGB Tiff files, 6” x 4” at 300 pixels per inch (1800 x 1200 22 Slapton Ley Residential Weekend, pixels, file size approx 6.17MB). Please do not send 2nd – 5th August 2019 larger images. Larger files may be needed for the cover. by James Foad LRPS No payment will be made for material used and whilst every care will be taken, neither the Editor, the Nature 26 Nature Group Meetings – Group or the Printers can accept liability for any A Good Start but Your Help Needed damage that may occur to photographic material submitted. by Ann Miles FRPS, Programme Co-ordinator The views expressed within The Iris are solely those of the contributor and do not necessarily reflect the 30 The Photographers’ Nirvana: the Galapagos Islands views of the Nature Group Committee or the Editor. by Josef Litt Distribution: ‘The Iris’ is forwarded to members using address la- bels produced by the RPS Membership Dept in Bath. Any member not receiving their copy should contact that department so that their name appears on a label in the future. The Secretary will be pleased to post single copies to members who have failed to re- ceive them. Copyright: © All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior permission of the copyright holder. © Photographs and articles - individual contributors. All other material the Nature Group of the Royal Photographic Society.

Printed by Partridges UK Eagle Avenue, Magnetic Park, Desborough, Northants, NN14 2WD Cover image Design & layout Marsh Helleborine by Duncan Locke LRPS by Gerald Grifﬁn ARPS

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Committee Editorial

Officers I have plenty of hobbies to keep me busy! Chairman: Thomas Hanahoe FRPS Email: [email protected] Photography is clearly one of them and another is Vice Chairman: David O’Neill LRPS walking. I am a keen member of the local Ramblers Email: [email protected] group and have spent many enjoyable afternoons this Secretary: Duncan Locke LRPS summer in the Midlands countryside and as a result, I E-mail: [email protected] get to see a lot of farmland. It is encouraging to see Treasurer: David O’Neill LRPS Email: [email protected] that many farmers are setting aside corners and strips Immediate Past Chairman: Kevin Elsby FRPS of field for wildlife to flourish. Recently I was walking Email: [email protected] along the Staffordshire Way across a field where at least 10 metres had been left uncultivated by the Committee Members hedge. The area was alive with butterflies and bees Editor of The Iris: Gerald Griffin ARPS and the sound of songbirds singing came from the Email: [email protected] hedgerow. Some farmers are also letting small fields Exhibition Secretary: Ralph Snook ARPS and those that are difficult to cultivate return to E-mail: [email protected] nature. How pleasant it is to walk through an upland NG Rep to Advisory Panel: David O’Neill LRPS Email: [email protected] meadow with umpteen varieties of wild flowers Programme Co-ordinator: Ann Miles FRPS supporting a wide variety of insects. I congratulate E-mail: [email protected] the farmers who give over part of their production to Webmaster: Ralph Snook ARPS wildlife and those, such as the RSPB, who do so much E-mail: [email protected] to support them. However this is not a consistent eNewsletter Editor: Dawn Osborn FRPS Email: [email protected] picture and there are places where I have walked this Stan Saunders ARPS summer where there is field after field of grass with no Email: [email protected] flowers, insects or bird song. I know that the set-aside Julia Andrew LRPS means lost production but the small rise in food costs Email: [email protected] would be a small price to pay to see more wildlife and James Foad LRPS Email: [email protected] I believe most people would agree. Julia Wainwright ARPS Some of you living in the south will probably have Email: [email protected] already heard of Trevor Parsons, one of our members, through the radio, television and magazines. I hope Ex officio Committee members you enjoy reading my interview with him in this edition. President of the Society; If any of our readers has a story to tell about a Vice-President of the Society; distinction that has been gained, please contact me Director General of the Society; Hon. Treasurer of the Society; and I will get you into print! Chairman of the Nature A & F Distinctions Panel I am very grateful once again to Dawn Osborn FRPS for all her hard work proof reading this edition of Nature Group Exhibitions The Iris and for her valuable help in a final edit of its CDs/DVDs of Nature Group Exhibitions are available for purchase contents. by camera clubs/photographic societies for use in their prgramme. Please contact the Exhibition Secretary, details above. Enjoy your photography and please put pen to paper and write an article for the next edition of The Iris.

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From the chair

CLIMATE CHANGE

Introduction than 0.5°C above in the south-west. Rainfall was 114% Not for the first time over recent years, last month in of average, but was very variable across the country, Bedfordshire we experienced a period of exceptionally with below-average rainfall over most of Wales and the hot weather while further north there was severe south-west, but more than twice the normal amount flooding. My thoughts turn to climate change. from Manchester to Leicestershire. Sunshine was 100% The United Nations estimates that as of August of average, and amounts were above normal over the 2019 the world population of people is 7.7 billion. It is south-west but below normal over most of Scotland worth noting that in the year 1800 the earth’s and Northern Ireland. estimated human population was 1.0 billion, in 1900 it The UK monthly extremes were as follows: A was 1.7 billion and in 2000 it was 6.2 billion people. maximum temperature of 38.7 °C was recorded at (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_population) Cambridge Botanic Garden on the 25th. A minimum Hitherto, economic growth has trumped every temperature of -0.4 °C was recorded at Altnaharra other policy of governments across the globe, with the (Sutherland) on the 8th. In the 24 hours ending at 0900 objective that each year the gross domestic product GMT on the 11th, 80.4 mm of rain fell at Fettercairn should be greater than that of the previous year. I (Kincardineshire). A wind gust of 50 knots (58 mph) would suggest that this now needs to change with the was recorded at Berry Head (Devon) on the 29th. natural environment being brought to the fore. I quote below information from the websites of the Evidence from NASA Met Office and NASA. In the USA, NASA gives evidence about climate change (https://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/). Evidence from The Met Office In the UK, the Met Office gives the following summary Climate change: how do we know? for the month of July 2019; ‘July began with a cool, The Earth's climate has changed throughout history. showery north-westerly flow over the UK, but for most Just in the last 650,000 years there have been seven of the first half of the month high pressure was close to cycles of glacial advance and retreat, with the abrupt the south and west and this brought mostly dry weather end of the last ice age about 7,000 years ago marking with plentiful sunshine for much of England, especially the beginning of the modern climate era - and of the south-west, and also south Wales, but elsewhere human civilization. Most of these climate changes are cloud was more variable. The second half was generally attributed to very small variations in Earth’s orbit that more unsettled with frequent westerly and south- change the amount of solar energy our planet receives. westerly winds, but with an exceptionally hot spell from (See the first graph, page 4.) the 22nd to 26th which saw record-breaking The current warming trend is of particular temperatures in many parts of the country, including a significance because most of it is extremely likely new record for the UK as a whole, and also widespread (greater than 95 percent probability) to be the result of thunderstorms.’ human activity since the mid-20th century and (https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps- proceeding at a rate that is unprecedented over and-data/summaries/index): decades to millennia.1 The provisional UK mean temperature was 16.4 °C, Earth-orbiting satellites and other technological which is 1.2 °C above the 1981-2010 long-term advances have enabled scientists to see the big average, making it the equal 8th warmest July in a picture, collecting many different types of information series since 1910, though not as warm as July 2018. about our planet and its climate on a global scale. This The mean minimum temperature was the equal 4th body of data, collected over many years, reveals the highest in the series. Mean maximum temperatures signals of a changing climate. ranged from over 1.5 °C above normal in the south and The heat-trapping nature of carbon dioxide and east to around 0.5 °C above in some western coastal other gases was demonstrated in the mid-19th areas. Mean minimum temperatures were over 1.5 °C century.2 Their ability to affect the transfer of infrared above average in much of the north and east, but less energy through the atmosphere is the scientific basis of

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This graph, based on the comparison of atmospheric samples contained in ice cores and more recent direct measurements, provides evidence that atmospheric CO2 has increased since the Industrial Revolution. (Credit: Luthi, D., et al.. 2008; Etheridge, D.M., et al. 2010; Vostok ice core data/J.R. Petit et al.; NOAA Mauna Loa CO2 record.)

AVERAGE SEPTEMBER EXTENT RATE OF CHANGE Data Source: Satellite observations. Credit: NSIDC/NASA 12.8 percent per decade

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many instruments flown by NASA. There is no question References that increased levels of greenhouse gases must cause 1. IPCC Fifth Assessment Report, Summary for the Earth to warm in response. Policymakers: Ice cores drawn from Greenland, Antarctica, and https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/02/AR5_S tropical mountain glaciers show that the Earth’s climate YR_FINAL_SPM.pdf responds to changes in greenhouse gas levels. Ancient evidence can also be found in tree rings, ocean B.D. Santer et.al., “A search for human influences on the sediments, coral reefs, and layers of sedimentary rocks. thermal structure of the atmosphere,” Nature vol 382, 4 This ancient, or paleoclimate, evidence reveals that July 1996, 39-46 current warming is occurring roughly ten times faster than the average rate of ice-age-recovery warming.3 Gabriele C. Hegerl, “Detecting Greenhouse-Gas- Induced Climate Change with an Optimal Fingerprint Vital Signs Method,” Journal of Climate, v. 9, October 1996, 2281- NASA provides information about the Vital Signs of 2306 climate change with respect to Carbon Dioxide, Global Temperature, Arctic Sea Ice Minimum, Ice Sheets and V. Ramaswamy et.al., “Anthropogenic and Natural Sea Level. For example,Arctic Sea Ice Minimum Influences in the Evolution of Lower Stratospheric (https://climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/arctic-sea-ice/) Cooling,” Science 311 (24 February 2006), 1138-1141 indicates that the Arctic sea ice reaches its minimum each September. September Arctic sea ice is now B.D. Santer et.al., “Contributions of Anthropogenic and declining at a rate of 12.8 percent per decade, relative Natural Forcing to Recent Tropopause Height Changes,” to the 1981 to 2010 average. The second graph on Science vol. 301 (25 July 2003), 479-483. page 4 shows the average monthly Arctic sea ice extent each September since 1979, derived from 2. In the 1860s, physicist John Tyndall recognized the satellite observations. Earth's natural greenhouse effect and suggested that slight changes in the atmospheric composition could Conclusion bring about climatic variations. In 1896, a seminal paper The data from NASA satellites presently circulating the by Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius first predicted that earth show the international nature of climate change. changes in the levels of carbon dioxide in the Further, the information from the Met Office relating to atmosphere could substantially alter the surface the month of July 2019, recording a temperature temperature through the greenhouse effect. approaching 39 °C in Cambridge while at the same time the media reported the imminent danger of 3. National Research Council (NRC), 2006. Surface catastrophic flooding of the town of Whaley Bridge in Temperature Reconstructions For the Last 2,000 Years. Derbyshire, demonstrates the local impact of climate National Academy Press, Washington, D.C. change. Furthermore, the recent increase in atmospheric CO2 levels correlates clearly with the industrial revolution and the exponential growth of the human race. The range of climate systems across the earth and their variation over time have created a spectrum of habitats which have been fundamental to the evolution of species and the survival of the fit: and for all we know, life on earth may be unique within the universe. I have little doubt that earth and its natural world will survive climate change but the consequence will likely be a different world to the one we know now. As nature photographers we need to be aware of the impact of climate change on the plants and animals which are the focus of our attention and as the Nature Group of the RPS we should do all that we can to support wildlife which is currently under substantial threat as a result of our human activities.

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THE RICHES OF MY BACK GARDEN John Bebbington FRPS

Although I still enjoy wandering round in the In Britain most native and introduced garden flowers countryside looking for photographic subjects – are insect-pollinated and have evolved an amazing sometimes with a particular target, but often just range of adaptations to ensure pollination. Some, while walking our springer spaniel – I am less able to like Marsh Marigold and perennial Sunflowers, are carry heavy gear long distances and much of my work visited by a wide range of insects but others, like is now confined to the garden! This may appear to be Foxgloves, Honeysuckle and Greater Butterfly limiting but it is far from being so. Orchid, have specific groups of pollinators and have My main focus at the moment is working with my techniques for disappointing insect species which wife Anne, who is a botanist, on a project on the would take nectar (at a metabolic cost to the flower) relationships between flowers and their pollinators. without effecting pollination. Colour (not only She is producing watercolours of the internal structure wavelengths which are visible to us but also of a range of species, and my interest is in not only ultraviolet, which we cannot see) and scent are photographing the behaviour of pollinators as they particularly important in attracting pollinators. approach the flowers, but also their behaviour when I have recently become interested in looking at in contact with the flower, and how this relates to UV reflectance patterns and UV-excited fluorescence flower structure. in these flowers. Adrian Davies’ book ‘Digital Even when working on a specific subject it is useful Ultraviolet and Infrared Photography’ provided the to be ready for the unexpected – one example a couple basic information on equipment and techniques of years ago was when I was photographing bumblebees which I needed and I’m grateful to him for nectaring on Foxgloves; a small wasp, carrying a subsequent advice. froghopper, suddenly settled on a leaf in front of me and Marsh Marigold, which we grow in our pond, has stayed there long enough to be photographed. A Google bright yellow petals, but on close examination these search for ‘parasitoid wasp carrying froghopper’ brought are waxy in appearance towards the base (this is also up a Wikipedia page about Argogorytes mystaceus. This true of our common Buttercups). This ‘waxy’ area is a kleptoparasite whose female stings and immobilises absorbs ultraviolet light, probably appearing very dark froghoppers and stocks its nest with them, then laying an to an approaching insect and indicating where to egg; when this hatches the larva has a supply of live food. land. I have used a Nikon D40, which has an UV Interestingly A. mystaceus males are pollinators of Fly Orchid – the flower produces a chemical resembling the female pheromone and the attracted males pseudocopulate with the flowers, transferring the pollinia. Obviously the presence of the wasp doesn’t necessarily mean that we have Fly Orchid close by – in fact the nearest known sites are over 10 miles away but the challenge will be to find a local colony!

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sensitive sensor, and an EL-Nikkor enlarging lens, 3 which transmits UV wavelength, for my visible and UV reflectance photography. The resulting images have a strong magenta cast and are often easier to interpret in greyscale mode. Foxglove flowers are just the right shape and size to fit large Bumblebees. They have long outward- pointing hairs which discourage smaller insects from moving towards the nectar, but strong patterns of spots act as nectar guides for the bees. Japanese Honeysuckle flowers have long protruding stamens and stigma and are very attractive to dusk-flying moths; on warm evenings the scent is very strong and I have observed Large and Small Elephant and Striped Hawk-moths and Shark Moths nectaring on the flowers. As they approach, pollen from the long stamens attaches itself to the legs and body hairs, and is transferred to the stigma of the next flower visited. The flowers change colour, once

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pollinated, and no longer attract many insects – insect visits can stimulate nectar production at a metabolic cost to the flower and , once pollinated, flowers have no need of further insect visits! Some of the flowers not pollinated in the evening are visited the next morning by long-tongued Bumblebees such as Bombus hortorum, the Garden Bumblebee.

9 plants I had found previously I found that the site manager had put sheep in the area and everything had been closely grazed! Perhaps next year … On three occasions I have found Elephant and In his book Adrian Davies’ mentions that some Small Elephant Hawk-moths in my garden moth trap flowers have fluorescent nectar so I decided to with Greater Butterfly Orchid pollinia on their eyes. purchase a UV torch and investigate. It was interesting The flowers of this orchid have their nectar in long to look at a perennial Sunflower which we grow. spurs, only accessible to long-tongued insects such as Under normal light both stamens and stigmas appear moths. When the moth hovers in front of the flower bright yellow, and the sepal tubes dark brown. and pokes its head into the throat to reach the nectar, However when lit by the UV torch the pollen (but not sticky pads on the orchid pollinia adhere to its eyes in the stigmas) fluoresce bright yellow and the sepal a position which will cause them to come into contact tubes fluoresce bright blue. with the stigmatic surface of the next flower visited. Evening Primrose (we grow Oenothera The nearest site I know for the orchid is around 3 glazioviana) opens quite rapidly over a two-to- miles away (easily within flight range of the two moth three minute period on warm evenings (a good species) but when I went to camp out there, camera subject for timelapse) and is mainly pollinated and flash kit at the ready, by a clump of a dozen by dusk-flying moths. The pollen, which is in

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How (if at all) does fluorescence affect insect behaviour? Is it part of pollination strategy or is it accidental? I suppose that one day soon someone will produce a microchip which will be able to read an insect’s brain and then we may get some answers! Meanwhile the head-scratching continues.

Image details 1 Argogorytes mystaceus female with Froghopper prey; Pentax K-3, Sigma 180mm APO macro hand- held,1/125sec f22, ISO800. 12 2 Marsh Marigold Caltha palustris visible light reflectance. Nikon D40 with 105mm EL-Nikkor enlarging lens on bellows, 1/25 sec f22, ISO200. 3 Marsh Marigold UV reflectance. Nikon D40 with 105mm EL-Nikkor enlarging lens on bellows and UV 10 pass filter, 30 sec f22, ISO200. Converted to greyscale. 4 Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum in Foxglove flower mouth. Pentax K-3, Sigma 180mm APO macro hand-held, 1/400 sec f11, ISO1600. 5 Longitudinal section of Foxglove Digitalis purpurea flower at male stage with stamens developed and stigma undeveloped. Pentax K10D, Sigma 180mm APO macro tripod mounted, 1/10 sec f22, ISO100. 6 Shark moth Cucillia umbratica approaching Japanese Honeysuckle Lonicera japonica flower. Pentax K-3, Sigma 180mm APO macro hand-held, twin flash, red torch on lens hood to aid focusing. 13 1/180 sec f25, ISO100. 7 Garden Bumblebee Bombus hortorum nectaring on Japanese Honeysuckle. Pentax K-3, Sigma 180mm APO macro hand-held. 1/500sec f16, ISO3200. 8 Greater Butterfly Orchid Platanthera chlorantha showing pollinia. Pentax K-5, Sigma 180mm APO 11 macro on tripod, 1/100 sec f22, ISO800. 9 Small Elephant Hawk-moth Deilephila porcellus with Greater Butterfly Orchid pollinia on eyes. Pentax K-3, Sigma 180mm APO macro on tripod, stack of 8 images each 1/15sec f11, ISO200, blended in Helicon Focus. 10 Perennial Sunflower inflorescence lit by ‘daylight’ LED lamp. Pentax K-3, Sigma 180mm APO macro on tripod. 30 sec f29, ISO200. 11 Perennial Sunflower inflorescence lit by UV torch. Pentax K-3, Sigma 180mm APO macro on tripod. 30 sec f32, ISO200. 12: Silver Y Autographa gamma nectaring on Evening 14 Primrose Oenothera glazioviana. Pentax 100mm macro, twin flash, Kodachrome 25 film. 1/125 sec f16. long sticky strings, adheres to spurs on the 13 Evening Primrose flower lit by ‘daylight’ LED lamp. moths’ legs. When lit by the UV torch the Pentax K-3, Sigma 180mm APO macro on tripod. 0.5 flower shows darker patches at the base of the sec f32, ISO400. petals – reduced near violet and UV reflectance; 14 Evening Primrose flower lit by UV torch. Pentax K- the stamens fluoresce pink and the nectar 3, Sigma 180mm APO macro on tripod. 4 sec f11, fluoresces blue. ISO400.

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MY ROAD TO RECOVERY

Nature Group member Trevor Parsons talks to The Iris editor about how wildlife photography has helped him overcome illness.

I gather that wildlife photography has helped your Department of Bournemouth University. I have also recovery from recent mental health problems. been spreading the message through radio interviews and I am being featured in the July edition of the Very much so. I am recovering from a second mental Hampshire and the August edition of the Dorset breakdown. I was admitted into St Anne's Psychiatric Living magazines. Together they have 114,400 readers Hospital in Poole and have been off work for ten and I hope my story will encourage others to take up months. When I was discharged I felt very low and wildlife photography as an enjoyable means to depressed and I did not want to leave home. A doctor, promote good mental health. I’m telling people not who knew of my love of wildlife, suggested I take short to bottle it up; talk to your mates down the pub. I also walks with a camera and take pictures of the wildlife I have 900 followers on Twitter, which helps spread the saw. The first day I went out for just five minutes and word. I am now working on setting up an exhibition to took several shots of a Robin. The next day was longer reach a wider audience with proceeds going to Dorset and the third day longer still and over time I extended Mind. I am seeking a sponsor to cover the costs of my time away. I now travel across Dorset, Hampshire, printing and framing my pictures. If there is anyone Wiltshire and beyond. Nature photography gave me a out there who feels they can help, let me know! reason to get out of bed in the morning. As soon as I put on my hiking boots and start walking in the I think you are very brave to discuss your mental countryside with my camera around my neck, a sudden health issues in this public way. feeling of peace comes over me. Not at all. I have never felt any stigma about my mental How did you get an interest in Natural History? breakdowns. There are many different illnesses that people can suffer from. Mine happens to be a mental From my Dad, who loved the countryside. We lived in illness. I have found a hobby that has helped me to Somerset and went on long walks to look at all sorts recover from my illness and by sharing my experience I of wildlife. We spent a lot of time stalking deer on hope it will help others in a similar position to Exmoor. successfully get over their health issues as well. [email protected] / T:@sonsrap10 / I:@sonsrap10 How especially has the photography helped your recovery? Thank you Trevor. It has been a pleasure talking to you. When you are going through a mental breakdown all your worries keep constantly going around and around in your head but when I look through my camera lens I am concentrating on that one moment in time. I forget all my worries; they fade into the background. Taking pictures gives me some much needed head space.

I hear that it is not just the readers of The Iris that you have been talking to.

Correct! I've been raising awareness of how wildlife photography is good for your mental wellbeing in several ways. I have written blogs on the subject for Above, opposite and on page 21 are a small selection ‘The Mind’ charity and for the Mental Health of the many photographs taken by Trevor Parsons.

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DELIGHTS OF THE S’ALBUFERA DE MALLORCA Ann and Phil Miles

We first visited the S’Albufera de Mallorca not long after it was declared a Natural Park in 1988. It is the largest and most important wetland area in the Balearics, a former lagoon, which has filled up with sediments converting it into an extensive flood plain with several endemic flowers, birds and insects. It is run by the government We have stayed in the area several times since that first visit and will return again soon no doubt as we always find plenty to watch, enjoy and photograph there. The last two years, we have travelled in early May in the company of small parties of friends using Jet2 holidays, staying in a luxurious beach hotel near the reserve gates, which cannot be faulted (2020 price is £780 per person all inclusive of transport and meals other than lunch, though I doubt anyone could each much lunch after the splendid buffet breakfast). Happy to supply details along with any other tips to anyone interested. We spent the majority of our weeks in the S’Albufera itself where the plentiful bird life is a delight. The reserve contains many trails and habitats ranging from pine woods, fresh-water pools and lagoons, extensive reed beds, salt marsh and tamarisk groves. The most representative species for photography are the Marsh Harrier, Osprey, heron and egret species, Black-winged Stilt, Avocet, waders and Eleonora’s falcon. S’Albufera is the only site in the archipelago where over two-thirds the total number of species recorded in the Balearics have been seen, 271 different species with 61 breeding. As you get near to the visitor centre in the heart of the reserve, you are greeted by a cacophony of calls from the egret and heron colonies, the wonderful sounds of dozens of Nightingales competing with an most-threatened breeding birds. It was reintroduced equal number of Cetti and Sardinian Warblers and the into the S'Albufera along with other European sites amazingly loud Great Reed Warbler song. An Osprey and now appears to be doing well after a decline a entertained us each day of our week in 2018 but was couple of years ago. The Purple Gallinule or Swamp notable by its absence this year. Spring visitors are Hen, which is multiplying after reintroduction from the likely to see Woodchat Shrikes, Sandpipers, waders mainland, is a further example of Mallorca’s excellent and several species of heron which include Purple, conservation efforts. Night and Squacco as well as Little Bittern. In early There are around a dozen hides dotted around May, when we visited in 2019, breeding was already the entire reserve – these are obviously at their best well underway with the first Avocet and Black-winged early in the morning or later evening when the main Stilts competing for space and anxiously guarding reserve is closed (a free permit can be obtained to their chicks. There are several rarer species: the Red- visit the park at these times), but we enjoyed many Knobbed or Crested Coot is one of Europe's hours sheltering from the main heat of the day and

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watching the antics of the numerous waders, including Black-winged Stilts, Avocets, Kentish and Little Ringed Plovers, and the Little Egrets extracting worms from the mud. The number and diversity of invertebrates is enormous. The most notable groups are the dragonflies, flies (including endemic species), spiders and, above all, the moths – of which more than 300 species are currently known. Swallowtails entertained us this year in the sunlit glades S’Albufera area has rich diversity of flora with over 400 listed species including many orchid species, the Bee Orchid, being the only one that is also found in Britain. In 2018, we hired a car for two days and visited The Cuber Reservoir in the northern mountains. Here we saw Europe’s smallest bird, the Firecrest, and one of its largest, the Griffon Vulture. The second day we went south to the salt pans around Ses Salines, where we saw a Collared Pratincole and Son Real with its many and varied orchid species including several members of the Ophrys family and Tongue orchid (Serapias lingua). This year we had a day out with Pere Tomàs of several new sightings for the list including Fan-Tailed Mallorca Natural Tours - a company to be fully Warbler (now called Zitting Cisticola) and Bee Eaters recommended to anyone visiting the island and (lots flying around but only distant perched birds). The wanting to see and hear about its birds, flowers and second part of the day was spent at the Mortitx Valley ecology. We started our day at Son Bosc, which has 9 walking through the ancient vineyard out onto the species of orchids (including Anacamptis robusta - an dramatic limestone coastal hills where we watched endemic Marsh Orchid). Birds were distant but Booted Eagles and the rarer Black Vultures.

The Photographs

Opposite: Anacamptis robusta.

Left: Crab Spider (Synaema globosum) with Bee.

Above: Ophrys speculum.

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The Photographs

Left, clockwise from top: Great Reed Warbler, Griffin Vulture by Phil Miles, Kentish Plover with Worm.

This page, clockwise from top: Little Egret with worm, Black-tailed Skimmer, Female Pratincole, Little Bittern.

All photographs by Ann Miles FRPS unless stated.

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The photographs Clockwise from top left: Purple Gallinule, Swallowtail Butterfly, Phaneroptera nana and Serapias lingua.

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2020 Members Exhibition of Prints and Digital Images

Exhibition Selectors: Richard Revels FRPS, Ann Miles FRPS, Trevor Davenport ARPS

Exhibition Calendar: Entry system will open 25th November 2019 Closing date for entries 9th February 2020 Selection Day 19th February 2020 Report cards by mid-March 2020 Exhibition Opening 4th April 2020 Returned unaccepted entries Late April 2020

The preferred method of entry is via the online entry system. All Nature Group members will be sent an invitation email that will contain a link to the entry system. Any members that cannot use the online entry system can post a completed entry form along with a cheque for any payment due to the address shown on the form.

The Members Exhibition page of the Nature Group section of the RPS Website will contain a link to the entry system, and a copy of the entry form can also be downloaded from there.

Gold Medals will be awarded to the best print and best digital image of the exhibition. In each category a Bronze Medal, plus Selector, and Highly Commended certificates will be awarded. The ‘Tony Wharton’ award will be presented to the most successful entrant in the exhibition.

The acceptance list, plus a selection of award-winning images, will be published in the Summer issue of 'The Iris'. The awarded images will also appear on the RPS website.

This year ‘slide shows’ of all accepted images will be available to download from the Nature Group area of the RPS website, there will be no DVD automatically issued to each entrant.

Digital Entries The maximum dimensions for digital files are 1600 horizontally and 1200 vertically.

Print Entries Please see the separate article on print submissions before you send your entry All accepted prints will be displayed at the Exhibition Opening. We are continuing with the ‘travelling initiative’ and they will also be displayed at Edinburgh PS and Wingfield Barns in East Anglia. The 2020 accepted prints will therefore be retained until the 2021 AGM. Unaccepted 2020 prints will be returned at or immediately after the 2020 AGM along with any accepted prints from the 2019 exhibition.

Further details of the entry conditions can be viewed in the online entry system, the Nature Group area of the RPS website, and on the manual entry form.

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RPS Nature Group Members Exhibition 2020 ENTRY FORM (Manual Entry Only) 1 of 2 ENTRANT DETAILS (Please complete legibly in BLOCK CAPITALS)

Name: …………………………………….……………………… Honours: ……………………… Address: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………..………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………..…………………………………………………… Post Code: …………...... Tel No: ….…….………………………………

Email: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….

I accept the Conditions of Entry and confirm I am a member of the RPS Nature Group

Signed: ………………………………………………………………

Entry Fee

This year there is no fee required to enter the exhibition. The fee for returning print entries by post remains at £8. Prints will be returned by Royal Mail 2nd Class or MyHermes Return postage £8.00 £………

A signature may be required on delivery. Total Amount Due £……… Please send your entry to: Please make cheques payable to:

RPS Nature Group Exhibition RPS Nature Group c/o Ralph Snook ARPS 8 Knole Close Almondsbury Bristol BS32 4EJ Email: [email protected]

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RPS Nature Group Members Exhibition 2020 ENTRY FORM (Manual Entry Only) 2 of 2 IMAGE ENTRY DETAILS (Please complete legibly in Block Capitals)

Prints – Category A …………………………………….……………………… Honours: ……………………… All creatures – birds, mammals, reptiles, marine life, insects, etc.

A …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Cat Id Image Title ………………………………………………..………………………………………………………… PA1 ……………………………………………………..…………………………………………………… PA2 PA3 P …………...... Tel No: ….…….……………………………… PA4

Prints – Category B ………………………………………………………………………………………………………. All plant life (including flora, fungi, lichens) and all other subjects including geological and microscopy, plus patterns, (design and form found in nature). Cat Id Image Title

PB1 PB2 ……………………………………………………………… PB3 PB4

E Digital Images – Category A All creatures – birds, mammals, reptiles, marine life, insects, etc.

Cat Id Image Title T DA1 DA2 R DA3 DA4 T £……… P Please make cheques payable to: Digital Images – Category B All plant life (including flora, fungi, lichens) and all other subjects including geological and microscopy, plus R R patterns, (design and form found in nature).

Cat Id Image Title DB1

DB2

[email protected] DB3 DB4

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RPS Nature Group Members Exhibition 2020

CONDITIONS OF ENTRY Entry is restricted to members of the Nature Group of the Royal Photographic Society.

General Conditions All entries must be titled with the correct English name. Only use the scientific name where there is no English name. Trivial and/or cute titles are not acceptable and will result in disqualification. All images must convey the truth of what the author saw at the time of taking. Any manipulation must be confined to exposure adjustments and the removal of minor blemishes or distractions. The final image must have been produced from a single negative, transparency or digital recording and must not be a combination of images. The only exception is focus stacking. Work accepted in previous Nature Group Exhibitions will not be eligible regardless of which section it was entered into, ie prints should not have been submitted as slides or digital images; nor digital images as slides or prints. This also applies to near duplicates of previous acceptances. Entering this Exhibition assumes that entrants have agreed to their entries being used to promote the Nature Group by inclusion in for example, the Exhibition DVD, the ‘Iris’, the RPS Journal and the Nature Group’s section of the RPS website. Copyright of all images remains with the author. Acceptance of entries will be notified by a report card which will be emailed or posted to all entrants. Whilst every care will be taken of all entries submitted, the Nature Group cannot accept any responsibility for loss or damage, however caused. Submission of work implies acceptance of the above conditions. Failure to comply with the Conditions of Entry will result in your entry being rejected.

PRINT conditions Mount size for prints MUST BE 50cm x 40cm. Please keep the thickness of the mount to a maximum of 2.8mm. Mounts too thick may not be hung at the Exhibition. Please also note that any print mounts that are not the above size, or have on the back, Velcro pads, peeling tape, or any sticky substance, will be disqualified, as they could damage other prints. Overseas entries can be sent unmounted and packages should be clearly marked on the outside - ‘Photographs for Exhibition only - to be returned to sender. No commercial value’. The back of each print must bear the title and name and address of the author. If using the manual entry system, the number of each entry corresponding with the entry form should also be included. The author's name must not appear on the front. If NOT entering via the on-line entry system then a CD/DVD containing digital files of your prints, must be included with the entry. See the notes below relating to digital files on the CD/DVD. • All unaccepted prints will be returned as soon as possible after the opening of the Exhibition, but only if the correct return postage has been paid in advance. The prints will be returned in their original packaging – please ensure that this is adequate and take into account that parcels have to be opened by the exhibition secretary. Accepted prints will be retained for display during 2020. These prints will be returned after the 2021 exhibition opens in April 2021

Production of DIGITAL files. Maximum size is 1600 pixels horizontally x 1200 pixels vertically. Files to be in jpg format, in the sRGB colour space, and 300dpi. Please do not add a background fill as the projection software will do this automatically. For manual entries the CD/DVD, with your name/s and distinctions written clearly on it, should contain a folder for each entrant with up to 16 image files in each folder. Folder naming protocol: - Name and RPS Distinction. (e.g. Joe Blogs ARPS) File naming protocol: - Category and number corresponding to the details on the entry form, space, and Title. (e.g. PA1 Common Seal DB1 Oxeye Daisies). Please use both upper and lower case, as in these examples. Burn as a Data CD/DVD and close it. Do not use options to write ‘Session’ or ‘Multi Session’. All CDs/DVDs will be destroyed after the close of the Exhibition.

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Four more pictures from Trevor Parsons.

Members Exhibition Print Entrants A plea from the Exhibition Secretary

As Exhibition Secretary for the Annual Members akin to the touch of a surgeon (well that may be a Exhibition I have the privilege of viewing all the bit strong). entered prints in the comfort of my home before they I will of course continue to open ever package are all sequenced and packed for the selection as carefully as I can while preserving the packaging, process. This is to me one of the highlights of the role. but it would make my life a little easier if the prints Of course, the pleasure of viewing only comes arrived in print boxes or something like a strong after the prints have been removed from the cardboard mailing box. packaging used to send them. This can be a Please do not let this missive put you off simple task, for example opening a print box and entering prints, in no way is this the intention. On extracting the prints, or a more challenging one if the contrary I would like to see more prints the prints are packaged in more imaginative ways entered. These are just my thoughts that may and bound with many layers of protective covering (hopefully) influence you when you come to and sealed with acres of packing tape. The prepare your print entry. challenge is that the same packaging will be used End of plea, I look forward to receiving your to return the prints to the entrant. Consequently, it entries once the entry is open. must be opened with care avoiding the temptation of simply cutting or tearing the packaging. This can Ralph Snook ARPS take a surprisingly long time requiring something Exhibition Secretary

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SLAPTON LEY RESIDENTIAL WEEKEND 2nd – 5th AUGUST 2019 James Foad LRPS

On Friday 2nd of August 2019, 15 members of the lowland mixed oak and ash woodland; ponds and RPS Nature group including two members from lowland meadows and pastures, We spent most of Scotland, descended on Slapton Ley Field Study the day there, photographing insects and plants. Centre in South Devon, for what proved to be a very After dinner we all met up in the lab to discuss what successful weekend of photography. we had found during the day. I went through the risk From beginning to end the centre’s Staff made assessment for the weekends activities. us all feel very welcome and were most helpful. We met at 6am at the two moth traps on Adrian Davis was tutoring there and was very Saturday morning. Two of the group gave us expert generous with his time. At the start of the weekend guidance, Jeremy Malley-Smith LRPS and our group he sat down with me for an hour before dinner with a secretary Duncan Locke LRPS, on what was there. In map of the area and provided plenty of valuable the traps we had two Elephant Hawk-moths and a information about different sites and what we could Jersey Tiger moth which we were given to find where. photograph by Adrian Davis. After breakfast we took On Friday morning we had a 6am start and the minibus to Andrews Wood again. There was headed down onto the Ley for some early morning plenty to get our teeth into including the rare Heath photography. We found Meadow Grasshoppers, Lobelia (Lobelia urens), which is only found on six sites Gatekeeper Butterflies and Blue-tailed Damselflies. in the South of England. Other finds included the However there was not a lot of wildlife to photograph Great Green Bush Cricket, Harvestman, Golden- and a decision was made over breakfast to visit ringed Dragonfly, Brimstone Butterfly, Painted Ladies, Andrews Wood, a 45 Hectares area comprising Large Skippers and Silver-washed Fritillary and

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Eyebright. In the afternoon we travelled over to Prawle Point, which is a mixed coastal habitats of heathland, meadow and rock pools. One of the featured plants found at Prawle Point is the parasitic plant Dodder. After lunch some of us wondered over to the Rocks for a bit of Rock pool photography while others headed towards the Coastguard lookout and heathland area where they photographed Wall Brown Butterflies, Six-spot Burnet Moths, Small Copper and Common Blue Butterfly, Dock Bug or Leatherbugs, and Common Buzzard. The Rocks provided some good photography as well with subjects including Rock Samphire, Heterosiphonia plumosa and Snakelock Anemone. After dinner we met up in the lab and thoroughly enjoyed a talk by Duncan on focus stacking. Sunday arrived and once again some of the party got up early and photograph the moths. After breakfast we headed to Pullerbrooke woods, which is part of the Bovey Valley Woodlands. We found plenty to keep ourselves busy in the morning. The species we photographed included Beautiful Demoiselle, Golden Ringed Dragonfly, High Brown Fritillary, Gatekeeper and Holly Blue Butterflies In the afternoon we drove to Bovey Heathland which is behind an Industrial Estate. This was once a dumping ground for rubbish, but has been transformed by the Devon Wildlife trust, into a haven for wildlife, Here we photographed Gate Keepers, Damselflies, Stone Chats and Long-tailed Tits, Pixie Cup Lichen, Wood Ants, Labyrinth Spider, and a Slow Worm After dinner on Sunday we each showed our three favourite images from the weekend. That was followed by a talk by Edmond Fellows FRPS on Sparrow Hawks and Tits in flight and the River Nith. On Monday some of the group headed home The photographs, top to bottom: after breakfast. Three of us explored Slapton Ley Loostrife by Edmund Fellows Nature Reserve. The remainder went to Bystock Beautiful Demoiselle by Jon Ashton Pools, which is a small reserve of 27 hectares made Snakelocke Anemone by Annette Beardsley up of heathland, meadow, woodland, mires and bog. The two ponds provide opportunities to photograph our native Yellow Water Lily and the Round-leaved Sundew. The group also photographed Golden- ringed Dragonflies, Soldier Beetles and Azure Damselflies. This group were also treated to a tutorial on Macro photography and Focus Stacking by Jeremy Malley-Smith LRPS. The weekend was very successful and great time was had by all. I look forward to the residential in Summer 2020.

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The photographs This page, clockwise from top left: Eyebright by Chuck Eccleston ARPS. Golden-ringed Dragonfly by Maggie Finnie LRPS. Heath Labyrinth Funnel Web Spider by Duncan Bovey. Heterosiphonia plumosa by James Foad LRPS. Golden-ringed Dragonfly by Paul Lund.

Opposite, top to bottom: Puss Moth by Paul Stillman. Robberflies by Mark Perkins.

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NATURE GROUP MEETINGS – A GOOD START BUT YOUR HELP NEEDED Ann Miles FRPS, Programme Co-ordinator

Although we have run a number of successful Sharpenhoe Clappers, Beds (28th July) and in August, meetings already this year and have others planned, the Residential Weekend. In September, we had the these are so far all south of Birmingham. Please Video Workshop and a Macro Workshop and, in October, a consider sharing your Nature outings with other Residential Weekend. Members. You do not have to be an expert to run an outing – just have an area that you know well enough Future Outings to share with other Members. Most people find it an Other planned outing: November, we hope to have a enjoyable and rewarding experience and help will be Fungi and Autumn Colours Day in Epping Forest; given on the small amount of paperwork required to December we are planning another indoor workshop – get the event publicised etc. It is normal to advertise hopefully with a specialist from Olympus but suitable for events both to the Nature Group Members and the anyone else interested in macro and for December RPS region in which it is held so you may well meet 31st/Jan 1st why not see the New Year in on Norfolk coast. new nature enthusiasts in your area that way. All these events will be listed on the Nature Group Website and on an email broadcast. It is preferred that Recent Outings you book a place this way so we have an idea of Since the last report, we have had several outings: numbers and full contact details. Martin Downs, Hampshire (22nd May) , Upton Woods, Again, if there are no meetings close to you, then Worcs, (29th May), Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk (2nd think about running one - email [email protected] June), Ryewater Nursery, Dorset (4th July), with your requests and suggestions.

Field Meeting Reports

22nd May, Martin Down led by Duncan Locke unusual because one is fresh water (gravel extraction) Nine Members enjoyed warm sunny weather and the other saline (salt extraction). Birds seen and exploring Martin Down, a great site for butterflies and photographed included: Avocets with chicks; Black- chalkland flowers. We found and photographed Headed Gulls with chicks; Lapwing; Ringed Plover; Burnt-tip and Common Spotted Orchids. We also Crested Grebe; Little Grebe; Gadwall; Tufted Duck; photographed fifteen species of butterflies: Common Tern; plus common water birds - Moorhen, Brimstone, Dingy Skipper, Grizzled Skipper, Marsh Coot, Mallard, Canada Geese, Swans, etc. Fritillary, Brown Argus, Small Copper, Holly Blue, Adonis Blue, Common Blue, Small Blue, Speckled 2nd June, Strumpshaw Fen led by Ann Miles Wood were reported plus a some day-flying moths. Nine Members and partners visited Strumpshaw Fen on a hot sunny day though rather too windy for good 29th May, Upton Warren led by Jeff Steady Butterfly and Dragonfly photography. The biggest Ten RPSNG Members plus five non-Members from 'disappointment ' was that the Swallowtail butterflies Worcestershire Camera Club investigated the presented no challenge as a pair were busy nectaring birdlife at Upton Warren Nature Reserve on an right outside the Visitor Centre all day. overcast day with occasional showers (too cold for Most of the party visited the Meadow area in the dragonflies unfortunately). morning where it was too windy for much insect flight Upton Warren is unusual because it has two but we did photograph various static insects and medium-sized lakes where many water birds breed; spiders. From the Tower hide, we had views of

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squabbling Coots and Black-headed Gulls as well as Back to the shelter of a shed for lunch, then out distant Marsh Harriers and Hobby. Lunch was taken at into the scrapes looking at butterflies and wild the Visitor Centre and then a walk along Tinker's Lane flowers. We saw the first Brimstones of the season - where a wild area gave us views in the air of Norfolk too far away - and Meadow Browns, Marbled Whites Chasers and many different insects to keep the macro and a few rather tattered Common Blues. By 3.30 pm lens happy in the vegetation. We found a very tame we were all suffering from the heat and decided to Scarce Chaser to finish the photography session and quit! John hopes to repeat the day in more amenable returned to the Visitor Centre for a final ice cream and weather conditions next year! view of the Swallowtails 28th July, Sharpenhoe Clappers led by Ann Miles 4th July, Ryewater Nursery, led by John Bebbington in conjunction with East Anglia RPS Region led by (With kind permission from the site owner, Clive Jonathan Vaines Farrell.) Ryewater is a private nature reserve of around Over 20 people booked in for the day (including 9 100 acres, with ponds, scrapes where the topsoil was Nature Group Members), but, unfortunately, after all removed and bunds. The reserve is home to a very the hot dry weather, ideal for butterflies, it had rained wide range of plants and invertebrates. The day was all day on the Saturday and the majority of people attended by 9 NG members and one non-member. booked on the outing had cancelled by the meeting We set off for the ponds in the morning, hoping time on Sunday. Very disappointing as we had done for dragonflies and damselflies, but these were few our reconnaissance earlier in the week and found and far between - the first pond (‘The Eye’) had dried abundant butterflies and other insects. On the up completely in the 2018 drought. There were Sunday, five of us met up and enjoyed a morning however a couple of 4th install Puss Moth larvae on a exploring the meadows and the woodland. I hoped poplar whip. One female Emperor Dragonfly provided to find roosting Chalkhills as over a thousand had some entertainment but at the large pond the few been reported in the area. No luck but there were dragonflies were flying fast and not very close. plenty of moths, spiders and flies to keep us happy.

The photographs

Left: Burnt-tip Orchid by Gill Cardy FRPS. Above: Male Marbled White underside by John Hankin.

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The Photographs, this page- clockwise from top left: Avocet Landing by Duncan Locke LRPS, Green Shieldbug Egg-laying by John Bulpitt FRPS, Common Darter by Sue Howard, Burnet Moth by Ann Miles FRPS, Black-headed Gulls by Duncan Locke, Snail and Terellia serratulae by Ann Miles, Four-spotted Chaser by David Edwards. Opposite: Swallowtail by Liz Akers and Marsh Fritillary by Keith Polwin.

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The Photographs, bug Sue ed

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THE PHOTOGRAPHERS’ NIRVANA: THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS Josef Litt

Only a few places in the world are as photogenic as to say that a failure of my 1 TB portable back up hard the Galapagos, a remote volcanic archipelago in the drive was partly at fault. A week in the Galapagos can Pacific Ocean. It's isolation allowed evolution to go easily result in 10,000 images. Bring plenty of cards, crazy and produce some iconic species. The islands batteries and means to back up your pictures. are hardly habitable, and humankind started their It is possible to explore the Galapagos on your exploitation only in the 17th century. Despite brutal own staying on the main islands and do a bit of island- depletion of the population of giant tortoises and fur hopping. However, I would argue that the most seals together with the destruction caused by efficient use of time and money is to embark on an introduced invasive species, some of the unique island cruise aboard one of the many yachts. In such a species survived. Still, the majority of animals do not case, you will spend the majority of the time hiking perceive humans as a threat. the National Park trails and on boat rides. Visitors are Conservation efforts prevailed after many allowed on most sites between 6 am to 6 pm. A good setbacks in the second half of the last century, and operator will adjust their itinerary to make the most of today the Galapagos National Park enjoys a high level the pleasing morning and evening light together with of protection while it is still accessible to visitors. The the benefit of colder conditions. It is easier to achieve volcanic vistas, fearless endemic animals and this on a small boat for sixteen people rather than a abundant marine life offer a breath taking, once-in-a- yacht for a hundred. lifetime photographic opportunity. The essentials for the 2-3 hours long hikes include The Galapagos are a first class destination for plenty of water and sun protection. I use a wide- nature photographers taking images on foot. The brimmed hat and long-sleeve UV-protection rash vest islands are also one of the top underwater so I can avoid using sunscreen. Sometimes the trails photography hotspots in the world. Aerial lead up to a volcano, and a careful choice of photography is limited but still possible. photography kit saves some sweat. There are not many There are so many photographic opportunities opportunities to use a tripod and use of strobe is that, during the research for my book GALÁPAGOS, I forbidden, so take these two items off your packing list. had to scale down my photographic and video The visitors are required to maintain a minimum activities, as I was unable to handle the amount of distance of two metres from the animals. However, data produced and charge the batteries needed. Fair the fearless fauna often ventures closer to a calm

The photographs This Mor Vice

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The photographs Left: Aerial view of Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz. This page, clockwise from top left: Giant Alcedo Volcano tortoise at Urbina Bay, Isabela,Brown Pelican at Punta Moreno, Panamic Cushion Stars at Mosquera, Juvenile Sea Lion at sunrise at Mosquera, Galapagos Penguin at Punta Vicente Roca, Galapagos Yellow Warbler at Seymour Norte.

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photographer. I find my 24-70 mm f/2.8 on a full- with a 1.4x extender. The ban on strobes does not frame body a suitable lens producing the most apply underwater. impactful images. I truly believe that diving and photographing the Capturing images of smaller birds requires a marine fauna around Darwin and Wolf is one of the different setup. An ultra-long lens can become most exciting adventures one can experience. unwieldy on a three-hours-long hike. The 300 mm However, I also think that a serious underwater f/2.8 seems to be the ideal compromise. Often, I used photographer will be as productive and have as much a top quality 1.4x extender to add a little bit of reach. fun during snorkelling on an island cruise in the rest of Some of my colleagues carry two cameras with these the Galapagos islands. Honestly, the images of whale two lenses. I prefer to take the lenses in pouches sharks and hammerheads, however exciting, tend to attached to my belt and swap them when needed. be much of the same. But taking an underwater There are some opportunities to use a macro camera to the rock pools can offer a fresh view of the lens. I do not bother carrying my heavy ultra-wide- archipelago. angle full-frame 11-24 mm glass and prefer to stitch a I left the aerial photography to the end. Flying panorama if needed. drones within the boundaries of the Galapagos The time before and after lunch is often used for National Park without a permit is strictly forbidden. snorkelling. Encounters with marine fauna are intimate There are good reasons for the ban, mainly based on and exhilarating, so a waterproof camera is a must. the disturbance to the wildlife and the interference Serious divers and underwater photographers with the nesting areas. The permit costs thousands of often choose to spend a week or ten days on a ‘live US dollars, and the approval procedure is targeted at aboard’ to the northern islands of Darwin and Wolf. large scale productions of big broadcasting These are places with the highest density of shark corporations. It is possible to fly drones in the areas population on the planet. Schools of hammerheads outside of the GNP, for example, around the major and seasonal whale sharks belong to the most settlements and in the tortoise farms on Santa Cruz. prominent attractions. Photographing the sharks in Make sure that you have the permission of the strong currents and often less than ideal visibility is no landowner before flying. Despite the ban, one can easy feat. A modern camera with a large and sensitive find videos of ‘fly-throughs’ of Darwin's Arch or aerial sensor in an underwater housing with a large dome images of the volcanic islands on the internet. Some port helps to get the most out of the opportunities. I guides seem to be more benevolent than others. I took the best images with a fisheye lens, optionally respected the ban and did not fly my drone within the

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boundaries of GNP. I am firmly against disturbing the animals with the noise of a low flying drone. However, I would welcome an opportunity to capture the impressive volcanic geology of the islands from a unique vantage point. In summary, Galapagos offer unique photographic opportunities on land, underwater and also just below and above the surface of the sea. Joining an island cruise escorted by an experienced photographer with local knowledge on a smaller boat (about 16 guests) maximises the chances of coming back home with memorable images. What's not to like? Book a trip to the Galapagos, pack your camera gear and enjoy the opportunity!

Josef is an author of GALÁPAGOS, one of the best known travel guides to the islands. He leads island cruises and diving expeditions for small groups on yachts of ideal size. You will be in the right place at the right time to capture the photographs you want to bring home. Cameras sometimes play their games, and Josef will help you to make it work. Find out more on: http://www.joseflitt.com/galapagos-islands/. The Photographs Contact: web: http://www.joseflitt.com Opposite: Scalloped Hammerheads at Darwin Island. Facebook: Josef Litt Photography Instagram: @jlittphoto Above: Brown Pelican at Playa Punta Carolal. Below: Blue-footed boobies at Punta Pitt.

The Iris - Summer 2019 33 The Iris 135 Litt_Layout 1 14/10/2019 19:56 Page 34

34 The Iris - Summer 2019 The Iris 135 Litt_Layout 1 14/10/2019 19:56 Page 35

The photographs

Clockwise from top left. Opposite page: Pacific White-spotted Eagle Ray at Wolf Island, Early morning for a Lava heron at James Bay, Marine Iguana at Cabo Douglas, Sally Lghtfoot Crab at James Bay, Red- footed Booby at Darwin Bay.

This page: Brown Pelicans at Darwin Bay, Genovesa, Marine Iguana at Playa Loberia, Red-lipped Batfish at The Anchorage, Smooth-billed Ani (introduced to Galapagos in the 1960s).

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The photographs

Clockwise from top left: Sea Lion at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Galapagos Magnificent Frigatebird at Seymour Norte, Nudibranch Tambja mullerini at Seymour Norte, Female Medium Ground Finch at Rancho El Manzanillo, False Killer Whales at Darwin Island, Juvenile Whale Shark at Darwin Island.

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RPS Nature Group Summer Residential weekend Skomer Island and Margam Discovery Centre Wednesday 24th June to Monday 29th June 2020

James Foad LRPS, the organiser of this event, is now accepting bookings for the 2020 Summer Residential weekend which is going to be slightly different to previous years!

Participants should book their own accommodation for the nights of 24th and 25th June in the Martin Haven area.

Cost for the weekend is: £175.77 for Margam, plus £11.00 for the boat plus your accommodation and meals for the first two days. A deposit of £75.77 is required to secure your booking.

For further details and to book call James Foad LRPS on 07834 810430 or email: [email protected]. The Iris Cover 135_Iris cover 28/10/2019 08:10 Page 1

ISSN 1757-2991 RPS Nature Group Residential Weekend 2020 Foxlease, New Forest

Foxlease Girlguiding Activities Centre, Lyndhurst, Hampshire SO43 7DE Friday 16th - Monday 19th October 2020 S

Leader: James Foad LRPS P R

E H T

F O

P U O R G

E R U T A N

E H T

F O

E N James Foad LRPS, the organiser of this event, is now accepting bookings on a first come first served I Z

basis for the 2020 Autumn residential Weekend to be held at Foxlease Girlguiding Activities Centre, A

I am told by Heather Angel that it is quite some time ago that the Nature Group stayed here.

There will be opportunities to photograph a wide range of fungi, plants, invertebrates and vertebrates.

The cost for the for Single room occupancy is £310.00

A deposit of £125.00 is required to secure your place

For further details please contact:

James Foad LRPS I R S Tel: 07834 – 810430

E-mail: [email protected] H E T